Page 2 ThliW oalt in W aatervllla A pril 15, 1996 Otterbein sets elaborate staging of ‘’ Otleibein College will present its turns the gothic novel into a psycho­ the opera house. matinee at 2 p.m. Quenon is a Trappist monk at the second musical of the year when logical love story, as the Phantom's What the aging diva docs to thwart Tickets arc $13 for Friday and Sat­ Abbey of Gethscmani in Kentucky. “Phantom" is staged April 25-28 and background and motivations are ex­ Christine’s ambitions sets up the cli­ urday shows and $11 for Thursday Quenon’s images are studies of na­ May 2-4. plored. max of this version, as the Phantom and Sunday shows. Reservations may ture and his immediate surroundings: The musical is co-sponsored by The story delves into the soul of kidnaps Christine and is pursued into be made by calling the box office at the hionastcry walls, windows and the Otterbein College Theatre and the the man-monster who lives in a self- the catacombs. 823-1109 between I and 4:30 p.m. doors; the forms, textures and pat­ Department of Music and Dance. created world deep in the catacombs “Phantom” lias it all — humor, beginning Tuesday. terns of light discovered in content The American version of “Phan­ beneath the Paris Opera House. Ex­ drama, action, beauty, romance, stag­ plative seeing. tom" promises to be the most elabo­ plorations of the inner man reveal a ing, incredible sets, wonderful cos­ A poet as well as a photographer, rate production Otterbein has ever perceptive soul as rigidly secreted tumes, electrifying special effects. Quenon has written a book of poetry. staged. It was created by Arthur Ko- from society’s ugliness as the Artistic Director Dennis Romer “Terrors of Paradise,” recently pub pit and , the team that grotesque face he masks. will direct "Phantom,” with chore­ lished by Black Moss Press. created “,” the 1982 winner of The story opens when the Phan­ ography by Stella Hiatt Kane and mu­ Quenon will give a poetry reading the Tony award for best musical. tom first hears Christine sing as she sic direction by Craig Johnson, di­ at Otterbein at 7 p.m. April 30 in the Based on ’s 1911 demonstrates songs for a music pub­ rector of vocal activities. The team Philomathcan Room of Towers novel, “,” lishing company in a bistro near the was responsible for early productions, Hall. the American version should not be opera house. including “Pippin.” A reception will be held in the In­ confused with the Andrew Lloyd Web­ The Phantom hears something com­ “Phantom" will be presented in structional Media Center immedi­ ber production. pelling in her voice and offers to coach Cowan Hall, 30 S. Grove St., with ately following the reading. In other versions, the relationship her in operatic singing. She agrees, curtain on opening night set for 7:30 Additional information is available between Christine and the Phantom and eventually becomes the hated ri­ p.m. All other evening performances by calling David Stichweh at 823­ is already under way. This musical val of Carlotta, the resident diva at will begin at 3 p.m., with Sunday 1463. OHIO NEWS BUREAU INC. CLEVELAND, OHIO 44115 216/ 241-0675

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S F p T _ q _ q R _ Musicals Unproven shows to get their chance in Columbus vella appears to te pop­ Capital will launch its season land. Many theaters American Senior Theatre Com ular source material, during Homecoming Week in Oc­ stage well-known mu­ pany, a new trou|x>, will stage C sicals that became judging from the cur­ tober with a re-examination of a Broadway flop: Rays, a saga of the (opening Thursday), an original mu­ Broadway hits. Yet, rent success of another American immigrant ex|ierience by sical revue designed to educate peo­ few want to take a risk musical version of the composer Charles Strouse (Annie) ple about breast cancer. on a Broadway flop —- Gothic tale at the Mi­ and lyricist Stephen Schwartz (Gtxl- Falsettos reached Broadway, or on a show that ami Valley Dinner SjS’ll). but the recent success of William hasn’t reached New Theatre. Finn’s gay-oriented chamber musi­ Otterbein College Few regional theaters attempt York. the difficult task of staging a new- cal was unlikely. Reality Theater will The Broadway Se­ Theatre's spring musi­ musical, but two central Ohio tackle Finn’s challenging near-o|iera ries, Otterbein College cal will be Phantom, a troupes will try. next spring. Theatre and Capital regional favorite that Offbeat casting should makes may- never reach ShadoArt Inductions, the par­ University will buck ent organization of Shadowbox Ca­ Damn Yankees one of the Broadway the odds. Broadway because of Series’ most popular shows. Jerry the success of Andrew baret, will bring F mint ion, Steve The Broadway Se­ Jerry Lewis Guyer’s third “performance-rock Lewis plays the smart-alecky Devil. ries, which almost al­ Lloyd Webber’s better- . . . ''Damn Yankees ” piece," to Columbus Sept. 21-2G after Typecasting? You decide. ways relies on proven known version cf Gas­ a world premiere this week in Cleve­ — Michael Grossberg, shows, will take a chance ton Leroux’s romantic thriller. in Mareh on Jekyll & Hyde, a new Phantom also will have a strong musical by compose!- Frank Wild- curiosity factor. This will be the horn (Whitney Houston’s Whew Do belated central Ohio premiere of the firoken Hearts Go?) and lyricist Maury Yeston-Arthur Kopit musi­ iieslie Bricusse (Stop the World — / cal, which Players Theatre Colum­ Want to Get Off, Doctor Doolittle.) bus had planned to open Wore its ; Robert Louis Stevenson’s no­ demise. - \- „ OHIO NEWS BUREAU INC. CLEVELAND, OHIO 44115 216/ 2 4 1 -0675

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RPR-11-96 Otterbein brings w Phantom to the stage Otterbein College will Based on Gaston Artistic Director Dennis present its second musical Leroux’s 1911 novel, The Romer will direct Phantom this year when Phantom is Phantom of the Opera, this with choreography by Stel­ presented on April 25 - 28 is a tory with an eternal la Hiatt Kane and music and May 2-4. The musical fascination. However, this direction by Director of is co-sponsored by Otter­ American version should Vocal Activities Craig bein College Theatre and not be confused with the Johnson. This team was the Department of Music pro­ responsible for ealier pro­ and Dance. duction. ductions including Pippin. This American version of In other versions, the Otterbein College Thea­ Phantom, promises to be relationship between Chris­ tre will present Phantom the most elaborate produc­ tine and the Phantom is on April 25 - 28 and May tion Otterbein has ever already underway. This 2 -4 in Cowan Hall, 30 staged. It was created by musical turns the gothic South Grove Street in Wes­ Arthur Kopit and Maury novel into a psychological terville. T|je opening night Yeston, the team that love story as the performance on April 25th, created Nine, the 1982 win­ Phantom’s background will be at 7:30 p.m. All ner of the Tony Award for and motivations are ex­ other evening perfor­ Best Musical.'/ plored. The story delves mances begin at 8 p.m. and deep into the soul of the the Sunday Matinee is at 2 man/monster who lives in p.m. a self-created world deep in Tickets are $13 for Fri­ the catacombs beneath the day and Saturday shows, Paris Opera House. Ex­ and $11 for Thursday and plorations of the inner man Sunday shows. Reserve reveal a perceptive soul as tickets by calling the Otter­ rigidly secreted from socier bein College Theatre box ty’s ugliness as the grotesl office at 823-1109 between 1 que face he masks. I p.m. and 4:30 p.m., star­ The story opens when thfe ting on April 9th. Phantom first hears Chrii- , tine sing as she demob- strates songs for a music publishing company in a bistro near the opera house. The Phantom hears something compelling in her voice and offers to coach her in operatic sing­ ing. She agrees and eventual­ ly becomes the hated rival of Carlotta, the resident diva at the opera house. What the aging diva does to thwart Christine’s ambi­ tions sets up the climax of this version as the Phan­ tom kidnaps Christine and is pursued into the cata­ combs. Humor, drama, action, beauty, romance, staging, incredible sets, wonderful costumes, electrifying spe­ cial effects—Phantom has Otterbein to stage ‘Phantom’ The Otterbein College Theatre and the Department of Music will pre­ sent the college’s second musical of the year, “Phantom" at 8 p.m. Thurs­ day. Friday and Saturday in Cowan Hall, 30 S. Grove St. Phantom is the most elaborate production Otterbein has ever stag­ ed. Tickets are $ 13 for Friday and Sat­ urday shows and $11 for Thursday and Sunday shows. Reserve tickets by calling the Ot­ terbein College Theatre box office at 823-1 109 between 1 and 4:30 p.m.

‘Village Green’ concert planned The Otterbein College Concert Band, sponsored by the Department of Music, will present an outdoor old­ time “Village Green" concert at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 8. The concert will be held on the pa­ Heather McClellan (left) plays the innocent soprano Christine and Ben tio outside Battelle Fine Arts Cen­ Sprunger (right) plays the mysterious Phantom in the Otterbein College ter. musical production of “Phantom." The free concert will be canceled Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday in the event of bad weather. Otterbein exhibit The 80-member band will play mu­ and 2-10 p.m. on Sunday. A poet as well as a photographer, sic from the Broadway show "Les features photos Quenon s imagery is also expressed Miserables." The program will also Otterbein College is exhibiting the in words. Quenon will visit Otterbein include "Danse Celestial," a con­ photographs of Brother Paul Quenon. on Tuesday to give a poetry reading temporary composition by Robert aTrappist monk at the Abbey of Geth- at 7 p.m. in the Philomathean Room Sheldon; "Shoutin’ Liza Trombone" semani in Kentucky, in the college's of Towers Hall. A reception will be by Henry Fillmore; “Symphonic Over­ Instructional Media Center Gallery held in the Instructional Media Cen­ ture" by James Barnes; “The Direc­ through June 9. torate" by John Philip Sousa; and The gallery, located on the lower ter immediately following the read­ "Just a Closer Walk with Thee," a level of the Courtright Memorial Li­ ing. For additional information, con­ hymn turned»Dixieland tune. ( brary, 138 W. Main St. in Westerville, The band is conducted by Gary is open 8 a.m.-lO p.m. Monday tact Instructional Media Center Di­ rector David Stichweh at 823-1463. Tirey and'Jeffrey Kunkcl. through Thursday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on / / / / 'T 'r, s i; g g r — " ■ - x H Srap 4 1 MET tW w A • ^ ;v:'-

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Dan Cra\ with his scenic design for Otterhrin College's Phantom; actors Ih ii jyjiiiii Springer and Heather McClellan are in the background.

Jacqul Krawetz For The D isp a tch / I / ■ In the wake of last year’s summer tour of The Phantom o f the Opera, Otter- bein College Theatre hopes that its lavish ) Cowan Hall production of Phantom (April 25-May 4; 823-1109) will satisfy a i fi. similar taste for Gothic spectacle and lurid s romanticism. Theatergoers expecting a duplicate of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s pop opera should think twice: Phantom, created by compos­ er Maury Yeston (Nine, Grand Hotel) with author-lyricist Arthur Kopit fNine, Wings), offers a different and more in­ depth explanation of the history and psy­ chology of the disfigured genius who haunts the tum-of-the-century Paris opera . house. ■ CATCO will end its season with one of Terrence McNally’s best plays: A Per­ fect Ganesh (May 15-.June 15; 461-0010). McNally has become a regional-theater favorite for his fluid blend of wit and

Tom Dodge / Dispatch Heather McClellan and Ben Sprunger (as the Phantom I in Otterbein College Theatre’s Phantom NEWS BUREAU INC. CLEVELAND, OHIO 44115 216/241-0675

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RPR-17-96 Otterbein to play out ‘Phantom’

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RPR-8-96 Otterbein to present ‘Phantom J o | WESTERVILLE - Otterbein evening performances begin at 8 College will present its second p.m. and the Sunday matinee is as musical this year when “Phantom” 2 p.m. is presented April 25-28 and May 2­ Tickets are $13 for Friday and 4. The musical is co-sponsored by Saturday shows and $11 for Otterbein College Theatre and the Thursday and Sunday shows. Department of Music and Dance. Reserve tickets by calling the The opening night performance is Otterbein College Theatre box \ 7:30 p.m. April 25. All other office 1-4:30 p.m. at 823-1109.